“I’ll see you in twenty-five years.” These were the final words the spirit of Laura Palmer whispered to Agent Dale Cooper during the season two finale of Twin Peaks in 1991. In 2017, Laura’s farewell became the backdrop for Twin Peaks: The Return, the third and truly final season of David Lynch’s and Mark Frost’s beloved cult classic. And now, The Return returns. This time it’s being presented across Seattle by The Grand Illusion Cinema, The Beacon, Northwest Film Forum, and SIFF. 

The bitter adage, “Seattle isn’t what it used to be,” recently increased in circulation after the shocking news of the Crocodile shuttering the doors of Here-After and Madame Lou’s. In their statement, the Crocodile asserted that they are committed to the longevity of their main stage—unfortunately, it comes at the cost of their smaller comedy and music venues.

Cosplay has a rich history often overlooked in the mainstream geek/nerd culture. As an artform often seen as ‘cringe’ or ‘embarrassing,’ a lot of people don’t know much about the cosplay scene or its events, but the truth is that it’s a vibrant community of dedicated fans, crafters, and performers. To separate cosplay from fandom culture is a disservice, as cosplay remains one of the oldest expressions of fan dedication along with fanfiction, conventions, meet-ups, and fanart. 

October 27, 2025, marked the 25th annual Gregory Awards held by Theatre Puget Sound. Performers, designers, and theatre makers and lovers all filed into Town Hall Seattle decked in their finest fashion for a night to celebrate the artistry and creation of the performing arts. After an hour to mingle, socialize, and give toast to the year’s winner of the Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award (John Bradshaw), guests gathered in the pews of the Great Hall for the start of the ceremony.

With less than one week until the much awaited Gregory Awards, there is much yet to do. Fashion choices must be decided, scenes rehearsed, and speeches prepared. While all that is happening, let’s take a look at who’s going to be there and how their stars rose. 

Tucked in the jagged seam between the end of one theatrical season and the start of another sits the Gregory Awards: a chance for the artists and theater companies of the region to be recognized and celebrated for their achievements and outstanding performances throughout the year.

HUMP! Film Festival will return to the Puget Sound this fall with the second half of its 20th anniversary programming. The indie adult short film festival created by Dan Savage has been a staple in Seattle since its debut. This new collection of 22 shorts, selected from hundreds of submissions, will run 17 screenings in Seattle from September 18-27 and October 10-11 at three venues across the city: On the Boards in Queen Anne, Quality Flea Center in Capitol Hill, and The LumberYard Bar in White Center.

The 28th Annual Local Sightings Film Festival is coming September 19-28—an over a week-long and in-person view into the creative psyche of the Pacific Northwest region—with over 60 films and a dozen world premiers held at the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle’s central district.

Just a quick walk from the Westlake Lightrail Station, and a few blocks inland from the bustling Pike Place Market, Fossil & Stone Fine Art Gallery stands still and quiet amongst the normal chaos of downtown Seattle. It is a gallery that one might walk past day in and day out, never quite noticing the inspiring and beautiful art within. 

So what makes Screwdriver Bar unique?

The spot was particularly popular during the late 80s/early 90s “grunge” era. As a former recording studio and rehearsal space, it housed a plethora of different bands and singers. One of the most notable groups to rehearse here was Nirvana, during the period between their albums Bleach and Nevermind. The basement became a second home for the band and for other rising grunge acts, cementing its place as an early landmark of Seattle’s grunge movement.

It’s lucky if you live here around the Puget Sound because you do not have to go far to experience great cinema. There are vast possibilities here that will have destinations like Port Townsend, Tacoma, and Orcas Island on your mind. Here are a few highlights of local film festivals and archival series coming this fall.

At 10 p.m., Seattle music project monocot.zip, composed of longtime friends Ryan Tucker and Luke Pendergrass, took to the stage and began their set. When their first notes hit the speakers, the crowd drew closer, because what was happening on stage was something you wanted to watch just as much as dance to.

Seeing a movie outside is like a campfire story. You and your friends and family gather around a glowing screen on blankets or short chairs to sit back and relax. In August, a partnership of the Maple Leaf Community Council and Scarecrow Video, sponsored by Áegis Living, are running the fourth edition of Movies by the Tower. For three Saturdays there will be free movies in Maple Leaf Reservoir Park.

What would the world be without poetry today? Poetry, a quintessential art form, always needs more attention, affection, and appreciation. The Pongo Poety Project, a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, is just one of many that continues to keep this art form alive while fostering new writers into its environment.

The Evergreen Echo, a burgeoning PNW arts and culture publication, has secured fiscal sponsorship through Shunpike, a Washington-based arts organization that provides artists with equitable access to vital expertise, opportunities, and business services via their programs, such as Fiscal Sponsorship, ACES: Artists of Color Expo and Symposium, Shunpike Artist in Residence & Storefronts, and The Studio @ 2+U.

For their 30th Queer and Trans Film Festival, Three Dollar Bill Cinema is taking us back to 1996 when it all began. This event will be a mix of throwback favorites and some new shorts in the TRANSlations Shorts program. The festival will open with Beautiful Thing, which was the film that kicked it all off 30 years ago.

It’s opening night! Today marks the start of the Seattle Asian American Film Festival—a two-day affair held in Seattle at the Wing Luke Museum (International District) and Broadway Performance Hall (Capitol Hill), and followed by a week of virtual screenings for those who can’t attend in person. This year commemorates 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War (or “The American War” as it is known in Vietnam).

It is refreshing to have a press dedicated to queer stories. It is even better that these stories are so accessible. Many of Northwest Press' offerings are available digitally for download as well as in traditional paper and hardback. The price of each is much more affordable than the latest from the big publishers as well as in a beautiful package. There is something for everyone at Northwest Press, and as it says on much of their wonderful merch: Comics are for everyone. 

Whole Washington hosted their first philanthropy event to raise money and support toward universal health care. Many health professionals and volunteers joined recognizable political and nonprofit community leaders at The Historic Mt. Baker Community Center on May 17.

The saddest part about attending the Seattle International Film Festival is the moment you realize it’s almost over. I have gotten to see some unforgettable films this season, thanks to the diverse and unique sensibilities of the 26 SIFF Programmers, who began their research and selection process last August for this year's festival. SIFF 2025’s final weekend is now upon us, and there’s still time to take advantage of some of the must-see films, now showing at the five SIFF and SIFF-partner venues around the city.